"Jake, you're home late, what happened?" greeted an elderly woman in a gentle tone as Jake walked through the front door.

"Hi grandma, a friend of mine was absent, so a few of us wanted to check on him. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you," Jake explained.

"Oh, don't worry, dear. Is your friend alright?"

"We couldn't find his house, so we decided to go back to our homes. We're hoping he'll be back in school tomorrow."

"I'm sure he will be. Now, leave your things in your room and wash your hands; dinner's almost ready," she said with a warm smile, then headed for the kitchen.

Jake's house was very big, even compared to the other wealthy houses in his neighborhood. In the New World, 90% of the structures were towering skyscrapers, reaching far into the clouds. The remaining 10% consisted of smaller-scale buildings, like Jake's home and Hyperion Academy. Within this smaller category, 92% had a modern look, while the remaining 8% boasted a more traditional appearance, although they incorporated cutting-edge technologies. These traditional-looking structures, mostly mansions, were owned by some of the world's wealthiest individuals. The more traditional a building looked, while still offering top-of-the-line comfort and security, the more costly it was.

These traditional-looking buildings were a status symbol in the New World and were mostly found in large wealthy gated communities that were filled with them. Jake lived in one of these exclusive gated communities, and his house was one of the largest. It was a three-story mansion that had a traditional look on the outside and wood-like details and decorations on the inside. The interior carried the same traditional style, with each room thoughtfully decorated to match.

As Jake entered his room, a humanoid droid, dressed elegantly, followed him and paused by the door.

"Welcome home, Master Jake," the droid greeted with a slight bow.

"Good evening, Baldwin," Jake replied.

The humanoid droid was so lifelike that one would struggle to distinguish it from a human if it weren’t for its distinctive eyes. They had a brilliant blue iris adorned with circuit-like patterns and a white pupil. This pupil served as the quickest identifier that he was not human and adhered to the regulations applied to all AI robots.

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"Is there anything I can assist you with?" asked Baldwin.

"I'm alright, thanks. Could you check in the kitchen to see if they need any help there?"

"As you wish, Master Jake," Baldwin said with another small bow before leaving.

After placing his books on the shelf and changing into more comfortable clothes, Jake went downstairs to the dining room. There, Baldwin and other robots were already setting the table.

A little while later, dinner was served, and Jake and his grandmother took their seats at the table.

The table was filled with an abundance of food, more than two people could ever consume.

"Tomorrow evening is the ceremony. The place should already be prepared," Jake's grandmother mentioned.

"Yes... It's hard to believe it's been six years," Jake remarked thoughtfully, gazing at a picture of his parents hanging on the wall above the dining room fireplace.

"Have you chosen what you'll wear?"

"Not yet. I might go shopping tomorrow before the ceremony."

"That could take quite a while. Just decide on the type of suit you want, and I'll have Baldwin pick it up for you tomorrow. It will be ready when you return from school."

"Alright, grandma."

"And how is school going?"

"Pretty much the same. Tests are becoming less frequent as the academy is focusing on preparing us for the tournament."

"How's your training going?" Jake's grandmother inquired with interest.

"I feel like I'm gaining better control over my ability, and my energy synchronization has improved a bit... But I still don't feel fully ready for the tournament."

"It's not always possible to be prepared for everything. You just need to believe more in yourself. I'm sure you'll do an excellent job."

"Thanks, grandma."

"Your father used to say that greatness is built on hard work. It's forged through sweat, blood, and tears. If you've put in the effort, you'll do wonderfully," his grandmother said with a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry for the interruption," Baldwin interjected as he entered the room, offering a slight bow to Jake's grandmother. "Lady Myriel, there's something that requires your attention."

"Goodness, I can never catch a break. I'm sorry, Jake, but it looks like I have work to do," she said with a slightly saddened expression.

"Don't worry, grandma. I can finish dinner by myself," Jake replied.

Myriel smiled affectionately before leaving, followed by Baldwin.

Jake finished eating soon after and went upstairs back to his room. After finishing some homework and reviewing his notes, he went to sleep.

Though it was quite late, he could still hear the faint footsteps of various droids and his grandmother moving around the house. For them, the day was not over yet.

'She's working late again,' Jake thought, turning his gaze to a picture of his parents on his nightstand. 'I miss you,' he thought, before drifting off to sleep.